# NTSB GAA18CA577: Aviat A1, N811YD, Grand Island, NE, September 18, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 18, 2018, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Island, NE - Coordinates: 40.971942, -98.31472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9719&lon=-98.3147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA577 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98407/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98407 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA577 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in tailwind and crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the second flight of the day, which was a 3 hour 30 minute flight, the tower controller at the destination airport instructed him to land on runway 35. During the landing roll, he lost directional control, the airplane ground looped to the right, and the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot added that he believed the accident was the result of fatigue. He added that he should have requested runway 13, which would have reduced the crosswind component, rather than accept the assigned runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station at the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 100° at 12 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 100° at 12 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The airplane landed on runway 35. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the second flight of the day, which was a 3 hour 30 minute flight, the tower controller at the destination airport instructed him to land on runway 35. During the landing roll, he lost directional control, the airplane ground looped to the right, and the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot added that he believed the accident was a result of fatigue. He added that he should have requested runway 13, which would have reduced the crosswind component, rather than accept the runway assigned. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 100° at 12 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 100° at 12 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The airplane landed on runway 35. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N811YD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N811YD), registered now, S/N 2278, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A1 (B) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2278 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 905 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2018 - Departed: HSR, Hot Springs, SD - Destination: GRI, Grand Island, NE - Airport: GRI, Central Nebraska Rgnl, runway 35, 7,002 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 18, 2018; seat: front; flight hours: 1,030.5 total, 896 in this make and model, 916.2 as pilot in command, 61.7 in the last 90 days, 38.5 in the last 30 days, 5.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 12 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KGRI, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180918013809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180918013809A), Sep 18, 2018: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Grand Island, NE, Substantial damage. On September 18, 2018 at approximately 1730 local time, N811YD, an Aviat Aircraft Inc model A-1B, serial struck the left wingtip during landing rollout at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98407. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 772 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.